Myanmar's parliament will announce its nominees for the country's next president on March 10, a week earlier than planned.
The new date, which was announced Tuesday by Win Khaing Than, the speaker of Myanmar's upper house of parliament, suggests democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will not reach a deal with the military to remove the constitutional ban on those with foreign-born spouses or children from becoming president. The Nobel laureate's late husband was British, as are her two sons.
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won an overwhelming majority of seats in both houses of parliament in last November's election. Under the constitution, the two houses of parliament and the military -- which maintains control of 25 percent of all parliamentary seats -- will each select a candidate for president. The top vote-getter will become president, while the other two candidates will become vice presidents.
Although she is barred from taking the top post, the 70-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi insists she will still rule Myanmar through a figurehead candidate. However, the military retains control of several key government posts, including defense, interior and border security.
The new government will take office on April 1.
